Title
Predictors of intentions to conserve bats among New York property owners
Author(s)
Siemer, William F.;Lauber, T. Bruce;Kretser, Heidi E.;et al.
Published
2020
Publisher
Human Dimensions of Wildlife
DOI for Open Access preprint or postprint version of article


10.5281/zenodo.5960556
Abstract
Understanding why private property owners take actions to conserve bats has become increasingly important in U.S. states where the fungus causing white-nose syndrome (Pseudogymnoascus destructans) has decimated bat populations. We surveyed property owners in three New York State counties (n = 2,500) and used multiple linear regression analyses to test predictors of intentions to conserve bats. Intentions to take actions that contribute to bat conservation directly were predicted by severity of rabies consequences, sense of bat conservation self efficacy, beliefs about responsibility for bat conservation, and attitudes toward bats (R2 =.39). Intentions to take actions that conserve bats indirectly were predicted by biospheric value orientations, beliefs about responsibility for bat conservation, and attitudes toward bats (R2 =.27). The relationship between beliefs about rabies and intentions to take actions that contribute to bat conservation highlights the need for coordinated risk communication between public health and wildlife conservation organizations.
Keywords
bats;behavioral intention;protection motivation theory;rabies;white-nose syndrome

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